Namandje Bumpus, associate professor in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology, has decided to transition from her role as the associate dean for institutional and student equity, effective July 1. After this time, she will take on a new position, as senior consulting strategist for Academic and Research Diversity. In her new role, she will support our diversity mission more broadly, through partnering with the chief diversity officer to develop and implement strategies to augment diversity and inclusion across Johns Hopkins Medicine—with a particular focus on academic initiatives and biomedical research.

We hope you will join us in taking a few moments to consider all that Dr. Bumpus has added to the institution as associate dean, a role she assumed two years ago. Dr. Bumpus has focused on institutional equity and on enhancing opportunities for graduate students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with special attention to helping vulnerable students bridge opportunity gaps and succeed in our school. In the process, Dr. Bumpus fostered a culture of inclusion, diversity and cultural competency, an effort she will continue, even after stepping away from this role. She has provided important insight to faculty, students and staff into institutional equity issues that have the potential to prevent Johns Hopkins from fully engaging its diverse scientific community. We are grateful for the valuable approaches she has advanced to resolve these challenges. Building on her strong record of helping to advance the careers and education of graduate biomedical students—as an adviser and advocate—Dr. Bumpus will continue motivating students toward academic success.

As we celebrate and congratulate Dr. Bumpus on her accomplishments as associate dean, please join us in recognizing her many other achievements during these past two years. These include receiving a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers; being named a science commissioner and member of the Science Advisory Board in the District of Columbia; and being chosen to deliver the 2017 NIGMS Director's Early Career Investigator Lecture.

Please join us in taking a moment to acknowledge Dr. Bumpus’ many accomplishments during her time as associate dean and celebrating her new role.